Camino prep: research, shopping and packing

Departure day will soon be here. Even though I’ve booked the airline tickets and hotels, it still feels surreal that I’ll be walking the Camino very soon. My biggest concerns with this walk are blisters and bed bugs. Eww…. I’m not worried about my fitness level since I’m in great shape. I’m not scared or worried about being on my own. As a matter of fact, I’m really looking forward to spending time alone.

I’ve spent time doing lots of research on how to pack, what to pack and what not to pack. As far as I’m concerned there’s no point reinventing this. I’ve talked to people who’ve done the Camino and I even found a local shop, LaTienda, which specializes in all things Camino (thanks to my friend Normand). I’ve printed up their packing list and I’m making my way through it, and adjusting it based on my preferences and research. Here is the link to their website which is only in French, http://centrelatienda.com/ I’m planning on paying them a visit this week to speak with them. A friend told me that they will gladly check my backpack once it’s full and give me helpful advice. This might also include breaking off the handle of my toothbrush to make the pack lighter! Ah, no!!! So, I’ll go in (without my backpack!) and check out what they carry in stock and do a little more research.

Shopping fun

Once I did some research, I headed over to  Mountain Equipment Coop (or MEC as it’s affectionately known). I bought a 35L backpack, some hiking socks and liners. For someone who is not a keen shopper, this places makes me swoon! They stock every kind of gear for outdoor activities. Everything from bicycles, kayaks, camping gear, clothing, etc. Just walking in makes me want to go camping. And I’m no camper! My kind of retail therapy. https://www.mec.ca/en/

The employees at MEC are very helpful, and after explaining what I needed, I was shown a couple of backpacks and fitted for one. They also gave me some good advice: the bulk of the weight should be in the middle of the pack, and not the bottom. This distributes the weight and prevents the lower back from absorbing most of the weight. I also need to make sure that my hip strap is securely attached so that I have all the support I need. In the end, I purchased a MEC Flair 35 day pack, long version for my tall torso. I really like the backpack. It’s light and has lots of pockets. Now, I just need to figure out how to pack it and what to pack. One thing at a time.

Finding pants that fit, not so fun

Not all my shopping at MEC was a success, however. Based on my research, I decided to buy a pair of convertible pants for the walk. These allow me to convert the pants to shorts when the weather warms up. Since MEC stocks a few models of these and one particular style was on sale, I thought I’d try them on. I was also excited that they came in a long length. As a tall woman, finding properly fitting pants can be a hassle. But, alas this product was not what I hoped it would be. Instead it was either a poorly designed product or it wasn’t designed for hiking. If they sell these pants specifically for hiking why would they make the legs tight? So tight in fact, that I had difficulty pulling the pants over my knees! And I’ve got small legs. Mind you, I could’ve spent full price and bought a beautiful pair of Prana pants. But, since I’m on a budget, I’ll keep looking. My friend Laura recommended some pants by The North Face. As a bonus, these are also water repellent. Not waterproof, but repellent is a good start.

The extras to make the walk a little easier

Ultimately, I hope to pack enough to cover my basic needs and any emergencies, but not so much that I’m weighed down as I walk 20-30 kms a day. A tricky balance, I’m sure.

Based on my research, here are some extras I’m planning to bring to make my life easier:

• Vaseline. Apparently, Vaseline prevents blisters! Who knew? I actually tried this trick and it seemed to work. No blisters after a 1.5 hour hike on a mountain and over some rough terrain. This website is dedicated to all things pertaining to hiking: http://coolhikinggear.com/using-vaseline-to-prevent-foot-blisters
• But, just in case Vaseline doesn’t work… Polysporin blister packs.
• A headlamp
• Peppermint foot spray from the Body Shop. This should soothe my tired, achy feet
• Hand sanitizer; I’ll bring both a tiny bottle of the stuff and a some pre-moistened wipes.
• Cycling gloves. Why cycling gloves? So that I don’t get blisters on my hands from using the hiking poles. I also tried this and it worked. This was a nice tip from my friend Francine.

Others things I definitely won’t be bringing are condiments of any kind. Another blogger suggested bringing Sriracha to add some taste to the food. Really? How about, no. Part of the fun of travelling is doing things differently than I do at home and that includes eating different food, prepared in different ways.

Phone or no phone?

Is this a trick question? No, not really. Of course, I will bring my phone. Now, why wouldn’t I bring it? Some have suggested that I leave my phone at home. Why? Is it because the experience won’t be as “real” if I carry a phone? Maybe I’ll be too distracted? But, maybe, just maybe it’ll help me. As far as I’m concerned, a phone is an essential tool. Yes, I like technology. I marvel at all the cool things we can do with smartphones. For example, I’ve downloaded an app for the Camino where I can use offline maps and I can see where each hotel is located. Why bring a heavy guidebook when my lightweight phone does the job? I’ve also downloaded TripIt and I’ve got my entire itinerary on it. So, as I approach each town, I’ll know exactly where I’m staying and I’ll be able to call the hotel (for free using WhatsApp) for a ride if they are located too far from the Camino. I will use it when I get lost. This will inevitably happen since I have a terrible sense of direction. And I’m walking 160 kms in a foreign country! This could get interesting!

One thing I won’t be doing is live blogging along the way. I really want to experience each moment as it happens. I’ll use a notepad to take notes which I’ll later transcribe to the blog. I’m also going to buy a GoPro to record parts of the walk. A couple of friends suggested this. At first, I wasn’t sure, but the more I thought about it, the more I like the idea. Having the video will give me a chance to relive the journey.